Rahm Emanuel wins Chicago Mayor bid with over 50 percent votes

Washington, Feb 23 (ANI): Rahm Emanuel, the former White House chief of staff, has been elected as the Mayor of Chicago, winning over 50 percent of votes.

With 87 percent of the vote in the Chicago Mayor’s race counted on Tuesday, 51-year-old Emanuel had won 54 percent of votes, avoiding a runoff in April, ABC News reports.

“Looking forward to working together as your next mayor,” he tweeted after his victory.

His closest challenger, Gery Chico, drew only 25 percent of the vote, while former Senator Carol Moseley Braun, the so-called “consensus” African-American candidate, stood fourth with only about 8 percent, the report said.

Emanuel, who has taken over from Richard M. Daley, would reportedly take charge of his office in May.

Richard M. Daley, who is retiring after 22 years in office, has served longer than his famous father, Richard J. Daley, the last of America’s big-city bosses, the report said.